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The Chinese high court and environmental regulators issued rules that describe 14 categories of "crimes of impairing the protection of the environment and resources" and aim to ease the process of convicting and sentencing violators. Among the actions set forth as crimes are discharging toxic materials, infectious-disease pathogens and radioactive waste into drinking water, as well as causing any pollution that poisons more than 30 people or requires the evacuation of more than 5,000 people.

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A Colorado law that goes into effect next month will require residents to recycle electronics through participating retailers, collection events or certified recyclers rather than sending the devices to the landfill. Residents who dump electronics will be subject to fines based on local ordinances, which in Denver could be as much as $999 for repeat violations. County commissioners, however, may choose not to enforce the ban if they cannot offer sufficient recycling services.

The 20th century's industrial pollution from North America and Europe may have inhibited Atlantic Ocean storm activity, and measures suggest that lower pollution near the North Atlantic basin could be contributing to an increase in storms, according to a study. "Our results show changes in pollution may have had a much larger role than previously thought," but the science is still uncertain, said researcher Nick Dunstone of Great Britain's meteorological service.

Vertical farming technologies may some day provide food for billions of urban dwellers, according to proponents of high-rise agriculture. By 2050, there will be 3 billion more people on the planet, and 80% them will live in urban centers -- and all of them will require food. Meanwhile, the amount of arable land per person is decreasing rapidly, sparking interest in building multilevel, vertical farms that use much less land and water than conventional farms and can be built in urban areas.

When it comes to low-carbon technologies, China is at the front of the pack, according to a report by Tony Blair's Climate Group. The report evaluates the country's vehicles, energy use and building standards.

The Renewable Fuels Association, along with a consortium of world biofuels leaders, asked the United Nations on Monday to review a report by U.N. official Jean Ziegler, who later charged that the use of food crops for biofuels was a "crime against humanity." In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the group said Ziegler's statements were offensive to the people who contribute to and benefit from renewable fuels.